CT findings in two cats with broncholithiasis

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Radiology
• Pulmonology
• Comparative Pathology

Background:

• Chronic inflammatory airway disease can lead to secondary complications in felines.
• Broncholithiasis, the presence of calcified material within the bronchi, is rarely reported in cats.

Observation:

• Two cats presented with chronic inflammatory airway disease.
• Thoracic computed tomography (CT) revealed numerous discrete, highly attenuating endobronchial opacities consistent with broncholiths.
• Broncholiths were distributed across multiple lung lobes in one cat, while incidental in the other.

Findings:

• CT identified significant endobronchial calcifications in both feline cases.
• Associated CT findings included bronchiectasis, atelectasis, diaphragmatic flattening, and bronchial wall thickening.
• This is the first report describing CT features of feline broncholithiasis.

Implications:

• Feline broncholithiasis should be considered in differential diagnoses for cats with calcified endobronchial material on imaging.
• CT is a valuable tool for diagnosing broncholithiasis and associated airway disease in cats.
• Further research into the etiology and management of feline broncholithiasis is warranted.